Matching Bathroom Accessories

When the wife asked me to paint the bathroom recently I got the idea to replace our old hard-to-get-off-the-wall accessories with home built ones. She agreed. I had a design in mind which would include copper pipe. I will admit that I did some Googling to finalize the toilet roll holder. The idea I originally had was way over complicated.With the exception of the glass/toothbrush holder each piece is basically the same, just of different lengths. Here’s how I made them. You’ll get the idea.

[Above] I used pine for this project. Luckily I had some planed down pieces of wood which previously had been part of an end table. All of these are nominally 3/4 inch thick. First I ripped enough pieces to 3 1/2 inches. Then I cut the pieces for the arms to 3-3/4 in.

[Above] On the arms I drew out the shape I wanted. I measured 1 inch from the centerline on the end, connected the dots and added curves by tracing the rim of a washer. I made one, cutting and sanding it to shape, then traced the outline to all the other necessary pieces. I cut them out on the band saw and sanded the curves on my little disk sander.

[Above] I cut a rabbet in the ends of the backer boards to hold the arms. The rabbet is deeper than usual, but I wanted to add some holding surface for the glue.

[Above] For the toilet roll holder I cut stopped dadoes in the arms. The arms for the towel bars got holes to hold the pipe. The backer pieces also got mounting holes at this time.

[Above] Then everything got sanded.

[Above] Each one gets glued together the same. Two arms get glued to the back piece. The towel bars get glued with the copper pipe in place, then they are taped off for spray painting. The cup holder is just glued in place between two arms, centered.

[Not pictured] I cut a bevel on the edges with the router to add some distinctiveness and remove some of the clunky look. This could not be done until the assembly was complete. Another sanding and then everything is spray painted, in this case, gloss white.

[Above] Just as I began installing these, I realized they wouldn’t sit flush to the wall because the hollow wall fasteners were slightly protruding from the wall. I solved this by drilling shallow wells around the screw holes in the back of each piece. What the eye does not see, the mind will not know.

Dave,While I don t wish to put a wet damper on your success ( get it? ) don t forget that while copper doesn t rust when wet, it does turn green, which rubs off easily.

- Oldtool

I appreciate your concern. I agree that copper if left to itself will oxidize to green, but the towel bars will be effectively polished everyday during use by the towels on them being pulled off, or put on or being shushed about. If it becomes an issue I can always seal them.

Another reason I’m not overly concerned: years ago I made a transverse flute from a length of copper pipe. It sits mostly unused in a basket in out living room. It hasn’t turned green, but is a beautiful dark brown. I didn’t seal it. Also, after seeing your question, I pulled out a length of old used copper pipe that I’m saving for an emergency. I rinsed it off to get the dust off of it, then rubbed it dry with a light colored rag. No green, just some dirt color. Pretty sure that wasn’t seal either. Time will tell.

Dave, consider LED lights for your new cabinets, long life no heat, ND the costs have really come down.

- oldnovice

That’s a good thought. I can see an opportunity there for a ‘coolness factor’. The current medicine cabnt is the sole source of light in the room, (4 bulbs), so I’d have to keep that in mind. However I’d also ike to design in a ‘night light’ to get rid of the one we currently have in there. As I say though, This is nothing even on the radar. It just crosses my mind occasionally.